barista certification exam UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
What does organic mean, in the context of coffee? Describe some details about the organic
program regarding cash flow and structure. - CORRECT ANSWER - Organic coffee is
grown and processed without the use of chemicals or pesticides, from seed to cup. Organic
certifications are given by private organizations, that in return for a fee, certify the coffee
organic, which guarantees the farmer a "higher than market price" for the coffee they produce.
Please give 2 reasons why most coffee brewed at home does not taste as well as when it is
brewed in a café - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Improper water temperature - less than 195 -
205.
2. Improper grind/bad quality grinder
What are some key points that you would discuss with a guest who is wanting to brew coffee at
home with an alternative brewing method? - CORRECT ANSWER - Answers should
include but are not limited to: water temperature, water quality, grind, proper filtration,
extraction times, pre-ground vs. whole bean, and stale coffee
Give two examples of flavor/sensory characteristics that are indicative of each taste category: -
CORRECT ANSWER - a. Acidity: Lemon, orange, grapefruit, apricot, plumb, grape,
apple
b. Sweetness: Caramel, chocolate, butterscotch, tof ee
c. Bitterness: Dark chocolate, bakers chocolate, fruit rind, carbon, burnt sugar
d. Aroma: Sweet, spicy, fruity. (Aromatic characteristics tend to be more general and become
clear when experienced with the associated flavor).
e. Body/Mouthfeel: Heavy, light, gritty, smooth, viscous, syrupy, ef ervescent
f. Balance: Acidity, sweetness, and bitterness all coexist and interact in harmony with no
characteristic overpowering the other.
, What are two factors that can cause coffee prices to change from origin to origin and from day to
day? - CORRECT ANSWER - Answers can include (but are not limited to): Taxes and
tarif s placed on cof ee by countries, weather during the growing season, cof ee plant
diseases/pests in countries and how that af ected total production, the total demand for cof ee, the
total supply of cof ee, shipping, importation, and transportation.
Describe the differences between Arabica and Robusta coffee - CORRECT ANSWER -
Arabica: Grown at higher elevations (1000-2000 MASL and even higher), generally considered
to be much higher quality than Robusta, yields less cof ee per plant than Robusta, is more dif
icult to grow than Robusta, and is more susceptible to disease and pests than Robusta.
Robusta: Grown at lower elevations (generally less than 1000 MASL), generally considered to
be substantially lower quality than Arabica, yields more cof ee per plant that Arabica, is easier to
grow than Arabica, and is less susceptible to disease and pests than Arabica.
What are the three certifications the Kaldi's Roasting Facility holds - CORRECT
ANSWER - 1. Organic
2. Kosher
3. KRC (Kaldi's Relationship Cof ee)
What are the 6 aspects to pay attention to when tasting espresso? - CORRECT ANSWER -
1. Aroma
2. Body/Mouthfeel
3. Acidity
4. Sweetness
5. Bitterness
6. Finish
Why does steaming milk make it taste sweeter? - CORRECT ANSWER - Though cold
milk and steamed milk technically have the same amount of sugar, the sugar (lactose)/sweetness
is more easily perceived when the milk is at body temperature or warmer (no more than 155
degrees though) due to the increased solubility of lactose.
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
What does organic mean, in the context of coffee? Describe some details about the organic
program regarding cash flow and structure. - CORRECT ANSWER - Organic coffee is
grown and processed without the use of chemicals or pesticides, from seed to cup. Organic
certifications are given by private organizations, that in return for a fee, certify the coffee
organic, which guarantees the farmer a "higher than market price" for the coffee they produce.
Please give 2 reasons why most coffee brewed at home does not taste as well as when it is
brewed in a café - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Improper water temperature - less than 195 -
205.
2. Improper grind/bad quality grinder
What are some key points that you would discuss with a guest who is wanting to brew coffee at
home with an alternative brewing method? - CORRECT ANSWER - Answers should
include but are not limited to: water temperature, water quality, grind, proper filtration,
extraction times, pre-ground vs. whole bean, and stale coffee
Give two examples of flavor/sensory characteristics that are indicative of each taste category: -
CORRECT ANSWER - a. Acidity: Lemon, orange, grapefruit, apricot, plumb, grape,
apple
b. Sweetness: Caramel, chocolate, butterscotch, tof ee
c. Bitterness: Dark chocolate, bakers chocolate, fruit rind, carbon, burnt sugar
d. Aroma: Sweet, spicy, fruity. (Aromatic characteristics tend to be more general and become
clear when experienced with the associated flavor).
e. Body/Mouthfeel: Heavy, light, gritty, smooth, viscous, syrupy, ef ervescent
f. Balance: Acidity, sweetness, and bitterness all coexist and interact in harmony with no
characteristic overpowering the other.
, What are two factors that can cause coffee prices to change from origin to origin and from day to
day? - CORRECT ANSWER - Answers can include (but are not limited to): Taxes and
tarif s placed on cof ee by countries, weather during the growing season, cof ee plant
diseases/pests in countries and how that af ected total production, the total demand for cof ee, the
total supply of cof ee, shipping, importation, and transportation.
Describe the differences between Arabica and Robusta coffee - CORRECT ANSWER -
Arabica: Grown at higher elevations (1000-2000 MASL and even higher), generally considered
to be much higher quality than Robusta, yields less cof ee per plant than Robusta, is more dif
icult to grow than Robusta, and is more susceptible to disease and pests than Robusta.
Robusta: Grown at lower elevations (generally less than 1000 MASL), generally considered to
be substantially lower quality than Arabica, yields more cof ee per plant that Arabica, is easier to
grow than Arabica, and is less susceptible to disease and pests than Arabica.
What are the three certifications the Kaldi's Roasting Facility holds - CORRECT
ANSWER - 1. Organic
2. Kosher
3. KRC (Kaldi's Relationship Cof ee)
What are the 6 aspects to pay attention to when tasting espresso? - CORRECT ANSWER -
1. Aroma
2. Body/Mouthfeel
3. Acidity
4. Sweetness
5. Bitterness
6. Finish
Why does steaming milk make it taste sweeter? - CORRECT ANSWER - Though cold
milk and steamed milk technically have the same amount of sugar, the sugar (lactose)/sweetness
is more easily perceived when the milk is at body temperature or warmer (no more than 155
degrees though) due to the increased solubility of lactose.
